Financial Services briefs

Investment group
Platinum Asset Management
said its funds under management were $15.5 billion at the end of November, down from $16.1 billion at the end of October. Platinum is an Australia-based fund manager which specialises in investing in international equities. Funds management groups have been hit by the turmoil triggered by Europe's debt woes, which is cutting investment returns and leading investors to pull their money out of markets and put it into safer places, such as bank deposits.

George Liondis

Lease finance firm
FlexiGroup
has joined forces with EKO Energy to provide funding to companies that want to install solar power technology. The new service will allow companies to lease solar panel products, rather than have to meet the full upfront cost of buying them. EKO Energy is owned by
AGL Energy
.

“The product is about making solar an attractive proposition for a company’s energy requirements, and Australia is poised to replicate the strong growth experienced in overseas markets," said Anthony Roberts, head of commercial leasing at FlexiGroup.George Liondis

Suncorp
chief executive
Patrick Snowball
has increased his holding in the insurance and banking group. Mr Snowball bought 3570 ordinary shares at $8.59 per share, according to a regulatory filing. He now owns 69,693 ordinary shares in Suncorp and also has rights over 900,000 ordinary shares as part of the Suncorp executive performance share plan.Staff reporter

A number of subsidiaries of Anglo-Australian funds manager
Henderson Group
have been served with legal proceedings alleging breach of mandate and misrepresentation. The proceedings have been brought by a majority of investors in an investment called Fund II. Henderson said it would vigorously defend the proceedings. Staff reporter

Investec Bank has appointed Matt Ingram as head of asset finance and leasing in Australia. Mr Ingram was previously group executive of specialist finance firm Alleasing. Staff reporter